John Burrows (2)

This biography chronicles the lives of American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, focusing on their famous expedition that lead the Corps of Discovery to find passage to the Pacific Ocean through the United States’ newly acquired Louisiana Purchase in the early 19th century. I like this book for three reasons. First, I like how Burrows makes sure to present the weaknesses of these American heroes. In particular, the book chronicles Meriwether’s fall from grace, after the show more expedition, that lead to his apparent suicide. I also like how the details are appropriately leveled for young readers. Many pages have illustrations and photographs of several important aspects of the men’s lives, and their journey, including important people, tribes, tools, weapons, and animals that the explorers encountered and wrote about. One photograph is of an actual page of pressed leaves that Lewis collected during the voyage. Finally, I appreciated Burrow’s authentic point of view about Lewis and Clark. From triumphant quotes of their first sighting of the Pacific Ocean, to the explanation of Lewis’s demise, I feel that Burrow’s has done his best to explain what really happened throughout these extraordinary men’s lives. show less